- BGG rank
- BGG #15,385
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Fireworks
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,833
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Cat Box
2015
Rules assistance for Cat Box
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 15–30 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Cat Box
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cat Box is a board game released in 2015 for 2–5 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Aza Chen and its main mechanics are Pattern Building.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,399
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Shiba Inu House
- 1–5 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,365
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Kitty Paw
- 1–4 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,316
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Cat Tower
- 2–6 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,243
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Hens
- 1–4 players
- 15–20 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,766
- BGG rating
- 6.6
NUT
- 2–3 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,523
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Instinkt: Duell der Tiere
- 2 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,823
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Coney
- 1–4 players
- 20–35 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,074
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Capybara Crush
- 1–4 players
- 20–45 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,216
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Boop Shuffle
- 2 players
- 20–30 min
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #277
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Calico
- 1–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #538
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Tiny Towns
- 1–6 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2019
About the game
Cat Box is played with cards divided into quadrants each showing an empty box or one of five cats (in a box). Players take turns playing these cards to a shared display, overlapping previous cards by one or two quadrants. Each player is assigned a secret identity; if you are a cat you want as many of your cats showing at the end of the game as possible, and as large a group of them as possible, but if you are the chihuahua you want empty boxes and groups of exactly three cats. Players can play cards held by themselves or any of their opponents, but one side of the card is used when playing your own cards and the other (mirror image) side when playing other peoples'. The advanced game adds five single-use tokens for each player which have different effects.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Zhiyanjia
- TWOPLUS Games
- Grail Games
- Second Gate Games
- Li-He Studio
Questions and answers
Cat Box supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cat Box is 15–30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Cat Box for ages 6 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Cat Box has a complexity rating of 1.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Cat Box belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Pattern Building. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Cat Box are: Aza Chen. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Cat Box as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.